ip journal

Russia's pursuit of politically motivated yet economically irrational behavior has shown that decades of attempted economic integration between Russia and the West have failed. Attempts to engage Moscow through its Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) look similarly futile. Germany's retreat from this strategy will have long-term consequences for both financial and political investment in Russia.

ip journal

Greece's election forces Germany to once again confront the possibility of a Grexit

The far left Syriza party is poised to win January 25 parliamentary elections in Greece, and will likely demand a renegotiation of the terms of its continued eurozone membership if it does. Angela Merkel's government in Germany, fearing the precedent this would set for other crisis countries, seems willing to let Greece go instead.

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The euro area seems to have weathered the worst of the crises, but longer-term problems now threaten the currency union. Steps must be taken to avoid a decade of stagnant economic growth, even if none of the policymakers involved are eager to discuss them.

Barack Obama’s absence at the great Paris rally for the victims of last week’s terrorist attacks may be symbolic of a deeper rift: Americans and Europeans have a completely different view of what it takes to combat terrorism. Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel declared that “Islam is part of Germany,” while US policy makers call for more security and surveillance. The killings at Charlie Hebdo may end up widening the transatlantic gap.

The West has ruled out military action in response to Russia’s annexation of Crimea and aggression in eastern Ukraine. This does not mean, however, that military tools are irrelevant. NATO should learn lessons from the war in Ukraine, examining the use of its weapons and tactics and developing a sophisticated response to them.

The Ukraine crisis has substantially and perhaps permanently altered Europe’s security structure. Europe is now much less secure, and its security architecture altogether less stable, more confrontational, and less predictable. Individual states, along with NATO, the EU, and the OSCE, must now address the deficiencies in this new order. At the same time, Europe has a better chance to exist peacefully if it succeeds in binding Russia into a cooperative order – as demanding as that will be.

With the actions of Russia’s President Vladimir Putin becoming ever more unpredictable, the EU Energy Stress Test was an important step to prepare for the contingency of a supply stop of Russian gas to Europe. Relying on solidarity and LNG imports, however, may not be enough.

With separatist movements and right-wing populist parties on the rise, it would be easy to conclude that Europe is reverting to small-minded nationalism – and wrong. However, the EU’s vision of a united, transnational Europe could do with new impetus that a more even distribution of decision-making powers would bring.

Britain is one of the United States' most important relationships, but Britain's position within the EU is central to its importance. A UK exit from Europe would weaken the geopolitical position of Britain and change the EU and Europe in ways which could be detrimental to US interests.

Germany is widely perceived to be calling the shots in Europe's sovereign debt crisis management, and maybe in the EU in general. But a state's influence in the union is complex and also contextual. Clearly, though, state power seems to have regained prominence in the European debate. How much power have member states retained, or perhaps even won, in the process of integration – and what does power in the Union look like? Five theses on power in today’s European Union.

A crisis in Franco-German relations has arrived, just in time for the celebration of 50th anniversary of the Elysée Treaty. This cannot be chalked up to the weakness of the French economy alone; the focus on budgetary questions inside the relationship has also advanced the inequality. Three recommendations to rekindle the romance between these two partners

David Cameron has delivered his long awaited "speech on Europe" and announced that Britain will hold a referendum on EU membership. Despite recent warnings by the US administration against Britain leaving the EU, the British public seems more skeptical than ever. The debate about British relationship with Europe will continue at these new heights until the citizens vote. The clear “in or out” option could help mobilize a coalition of EU supporters, and reforms in Brussels would help the European cause in the UK.

Before decisions on the regulation of the Internet and prevailing universal norms are made on a global level, Europeans must develop a common Internet strategy. Such an EU strategy, however, cannot pit security against freedom or the interests of the state against individual liberties and fundamental rights.

Those who work in foreign policy are always traveling. This is a truism with consequences, since a politician who is away from her home district will have less contact with voters and ultimately lower chances for reelection. So how can we recruit young talent interested in global affairs? For starters, raise the status of foreign policy on the political agenda.

Clearly, the future still does not look rosy for the Eurozone. But three years into the euro crisis, Angela Merkel, whose global recognition has skyrocketed in the course of the crisis, remains in surprisingly good shape. As many times as worries that the euro rescue will ultimately fail might have kept her up at night over this past year — she doesn’t look it.

The Nordic countries have been at the business of renewable energy longer than Germany – and they have a lot to show for it. In fact, their supplies of renewable energies proportionally surpass those of the Germans' hands down; their energy prices are lower; and most of them export clean energy.

Londoners are flocking to Berlin these days. During the last two years the Brits calling Berlin or stopping by to chat with Berlin’s political analysts seemed to mostly come from the financial sector. But as eurozone governments have begun transitioning from crisis mode into the messy business of sorting out the longer-term fixes, it’s now Britain's politicians who are showing up in Berlin to discuss Europe.

The European Union has decided to support the new Malian government in reclaiming sovereign control over the northern parts of Mali. The EU will create a small training mission for Bamako to help it better cope with the Islamist occupation of this territory, which makes up the greater part of the country.